Finance Facility Advisor - Home based Retainer

Background Information - UNOPS Water, Environment and Climate (WEC)

The Water, Environment and Climate (WEC) portfolio, based in Vienna, and with offices based globally is part of the UNOPS Global Portfolio Office. The Portfolio has built strong partnerships and is effectively managing a portfolio of over 500 million USD over the last 15 years to support key initiatives with fund management, project implementation and administrative support. 

WEC effectively operationalizes partners' agendas with global approaches, as well as regional and country specific activities focused on climate action, protection and conservation of the environment. Partners profit from WEC’s ability to operationalize and/or scale up their important substantive agendas, including in support of key multilateral environmental and climate agreements,  such as the Paris Agreement, the Cartagena Convention as well as the Sustainable Development Goals. 

The South China Sea region and the UNEP/GEF SCS-SAP Project

The South China Sea is a semi-enclosed sea, which supports a number of unique habitats and ecosystems that are amongst the most biologically diverse shallow water marine ecosystems globally. The richness and productivity of the South China Sea and associated environments are, however, seriously threatened by high population growth, pollution, overharvest and habitat modification, resulting in high rates of habitat loss and impairment of the regenerative capacities of living resources. The socio-economic impacts of environmental deterioration are significant for the economies of this region. 

Recognising that actions were urgently needed to halt degradation of the environment of this marine basin, the countries of the region sought the assistance of UNEP and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the project “Reversing Environmental Degradation Trends in the South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand” was implemented from 2003-2008. This included a Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis (TDA) of the issues and problems and their societal root causes as the basis for development of a Strategic Action Programme (SAP) which was inter-governmentally adopted in 2008. The SAP established a series of objectives and priority actions for coastal habitats, land-based pollution management, and the overexploitation of fish stocks in the South China Sea.

In May 2018, a US$ 15 million grant was released by the GEF to support the execution of the South China Sea  SAP Project (SCS-SAP) until December 2026 (originally 2018-2023). The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is the executing agency for the implementation of the SCS-SAP project. The SCS-SAP Project includes Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam, with direct outcomes on habitat conservation on mangroves, coral reefs, seagrass, and coastal wetlands; knowledge management; sustainable financing; and regional governance and collaboration.

A regional financing facility for the management and protection of the East Asian Seas is essential to address growing environmental degradation, overexploitation of marine resources, and increasing threats from pollution and climate change that affect the region's biodiversity, livelihoods, and economic stability. Efforts in the management of the marine and coastal environment in the region are strong in different levels, from regional, national, and local, however, these efforts are limited to project cycles and sustainability can be hindered by lack of sustainable financing. A dedicated regional financing facility could address these gaps by pooling resources from the private sector, international donors, and development banks, and effectively reallocating these to areas in need, ensuring long-term, coordinated, and effective environmental protection measures for the East Asian Seas.

Background: Financing Facility Advisor

Under the direct supervision of the Senior Project Manager in coordination with the Environmental Marine Specialist in Bangkok, Thailand, the Financing Facility Advisor will provide strategic advisory services and technical expertise towards the proposal to establish a regional financing facility that will support the identification and development of blue finance opportunities for investments and grants towards the sustainable management of the marine and coastal ecosystems of the East Asian Seas.

* This is a Homebased position, meaning that the incumbent will not work from a UNOPS office. Therefore, the incumbent will need to use his/her own laptop and software.

***This position is for twelve 12 months, maximum of 220 working days with possibility of extension depending on satisfactory performance and on availability of funds.

** As this is a home based position, with the duty station being your city of permanent residence.

*** Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

1. Contract type: Individual Contractor Agreement (ICA) -Retainer
2. Contract level: IICA 3/ ICS 11
3. Contract duration: 12 months Maximum 220 working days with possibility of extension based on satisfactory performance and availability of funds.

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.

• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.

• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.

• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures,  languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. 

• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.

• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process.  If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

Terms and Conditions 

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post. 

• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses ( they take around 4 hours to complete)  in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here.

• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.

• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.